Mārgaśīrṣa-māhātmya · Chapter 7
Source।। ब्रह्मोवाच ।। ।। माहात्म्यं वद देवेश पुष्पजातिसमुद्भवम् ।। येनयेन च पुष्पेण यत्फलं लभते नरः ।। १ ।। ।। श्रीभगवानुवाच ।। ।। शृणु पुत्र प्रवक्ष्यामि माहात्म्यं पुष्पसंभवम्।। येन पुष्पेण मे प्रीतिर्भवेत्सम्यङ्न संशयः ।। २ ।। मल्लिका मालती चैव यूथिका चातिमुक्तका ।। पाटला करवीरं च जयन्ती विजया तथा ।। ३ ।। कुब्जकस्तबकश्चैव कर्णिकारं कुरंटकः ।। चंपकश्चातकः कुन्दो बाणः कर्चूरमल्लिका ।। ४ ।। अशोकस्तिलकश्चैव तथैवाऽपरयूथिकः ।। अमी पुष्पप्रकारास्तु शस्ता मे पूजने सुत ।। ५ ।। केतकीपत्रपुष्पं च भृंगराजस्तथैव च ।। तुलसीपत्रपुष्पं च सद्यः प्रीतिकरं मम।। ६ ।। पद्मान्यंबुसमुत्थानि रक्तनीलोत्पले तथा ।। सितोत्पलं सहोमासे ममाऽत्यन्तं हि वल्लभम् ।। ७ ।। तान्येव च प्रशस्तानि कुसुमानि च मे सुत ।। यानि स्युर्वर्णयुक्तानि रसगन्धयुतानि च ।। ८ ।। निर्गंधान्यपि शस्तानि कुसुमानि मतानि मे ।। सुरभीणि तथाऽन्यानि वर्जयित्वा तु केतकीम् ।। ९ ।। बाणं च चंपकाऽशोकं करवीरं च यूथिका ।। पारिभद्रं पाटला च बकुलं गिरिशालिनी ।। 2.5.7.१० ।। बिल्वपत्रं शमीपत्रं पत्रं भृंगिरजस्य च ।। तमालामलकीपत्रं शस्तं मे पूजने सुत ।। ११ ।। पुष्पैररण्यसंभूतैः पत्रैर्वा गिरिसंभवैः ।। अपर्युषितनिश्छिद्रैः प्रोक्षितैर्जंतुवर्जितैः।। १२ ।। अथारामोद्भवैर्वापि पुष्पैः संपूजयेच्च माम् ।। पुष्पजातिविशेषेण भवेत्पुण्यं विशेषतः ।।१३।। तपःशीलगुणोपेते पात्रे वेदस्य पारगे ।। दश दत्त्वा सुवर्णानि यत्फलं लभते नरः ।। तत्फलं लभते मर्त्यः सहे कुसुमदानतः ।। १४ ।। द्रोणपुष्पे तथैकस्मिन्मह्यं च विनिवेदिते ।। दश दत्त्वा सुवर्णानि फलं तदधिकं सुत ।। १५ ।। पुष्पात्पुष्पांतरे भेदो यथाऽऽसीत्तन्निबोध मे ।। १६ ।। द्रोणपुष्पसहस्रेभ्यः खादिरं तु विशिष्यते ।। खादिरात्पुष्पसाहस्राच्छमीपुष्पं विशिष्यते ।। १७ ।। शमीपुष्पसहस्रेभ्यो बिल्वपुष्पं विशिष्यते ।। बिल्वपुष्पसहस्रेभ्यो बकपुष्पं विशिष्यते ।।१८।। बकपुष्पसहस्रेभ्यो नंद्यावर्तं विशिष्यते ।। नंद्यावर्तसहस्राद्धि करवीरं विशिष्यते ।। १९ ।। करवीरसहस्रस्य कुसुमं श्वेतमुत्तमम् ।। करवीरश्वेतपुष्पात्पालाशं पुष्पमुत्तमम् ।। 2.5.7.२० ।। पालाशपुष्पसाहस्रात्कुशपुष्पं विशिष्यते ।। कुशपुष्पसहस्राद्धि वनमाला विशिष्यते ।। २१ ।। वनमाला सहस्राद्धि चंपकं च विशिष्यते ।। चंपकस्य पुष्पशतादशोकं पुष्पमुत्तमम् ।। २२ ।। अशोकपुष्पसाहस्राच्छेवन्तीपुष्पमुत्तमम् ।। शेवन्तीपुष्पसाहस्रात्कुजकं पुष्पमुत्तमम् ।। २३ ।। कुजपुष्पसहस्राद्धि मालतीपुष्पमुत्तमम् ।। मालतीपुष्पसाहस्रात्सन्ध्यापुष्पं विशिष्यते ।। २४ ।। सन्ध्या पुष्पसहस्राद्धि त्रिसंध्यापुष्पमुत्तमम् ।। २५ ।। त्रिसंध्यारक्तसाहस्रात्त्रिसंध्याश्वेतमुत्तमम् ।। त्रिसन्ध्याश्वेतसाहस्रात्कुन्दपुष्पं विशिष्यते ।। ।। २६ ।। कुन्दपुष्पसहस्राद्धि जातीपुष्पं विशिष्यते ।। सर्वासां पुष्पजातीनां जातीपुष्पमिहोत्तमम् ।। २७ ।। जातीपुष्पसहस्रेण यच्छेन्मालां सुशोभनाम् ।। मह्यं यो विधिवद्दद्यात्तस्य पुण्यफलं शृणु ।। २८ ।। कल्पकोटिसहस्राणि कल्पकोटिशतानि च ।। मत्पुरे वसते नित्यं ममतुल्य पराक्रमः ।। २९ ।। येषां संति च पुष्पाणि प्रशस्तानि ममाऽर्चने ।। तेषां पत्राणि शस्तानि तदभावे फलानि च ।। 2.5.7.३० ।। एतैः पत्रैश्च पुष्पैश्च फलैश्चाऽपि तथाहि माम् ।। अर्चन्दशसुवर्णस्य प्रत्येकं फलमाप्नुयात् ।। ३१ ।। एताभिः पुष्पजातीभिः सहोमासेऽर्चयंति ये ।। भक्तिं ददामि तेषां वै तुष्टः सन्नात्र संशयः ।। ३२ ।। धनं पुत्रांस्तथा दारान्यत्किंचिद्वांछते हि सः ।। तत्तद्ददामि देवेश पुष्पैरेभिः प्रतोषितः ।। ३३ ।। इति श्रीस्कांदे महापुराण एकाशीतिसाहस्र्यां संहितायां द्वितीये वैष्णवखण्डे ब्रह्मविष्णुसंवादे मार्गशीर्षमाहात्म्ये जातीपुष्पश्रैष्ठ्यकथनपूर्वकं विष्णुकण्ठे तत्सहस्रपुष्पांकितमालास्थापनफलयोवर्णनंनाम सप्तमोऽध्यायः ।। ७ ।।
|| brahmovāca || || māhātmyaṃ vada deveśa puṣpajātisamudbhavam || yenayena ca puṣpeṇa yatphalaṃ labhate naraḥ || 1 || || śrībhagavānuvāca || || śṛṇu putra pravakṣyāmi māhātmyaṃ puṣpasaṃbhavam|| yena puṣpeṇa me prītirbhavetsamyaṅna saṃśayaḥ || 2 || mallikā mālatī caiva yūthikā cātimuktakā || pāṭalā karavīraṃ ca jayantī vijayā tathā || 3 || kubjakastabakaścaiva karṇikāraṃ kuraṃṭakaḥ || caṃpakaścātakaḥ kundo bāṇaḥ karcūramallikā || 4 || aśokastilakaścaiva tathaivā'parayūthikaḥ || amī puṣpaprakārāstu śastā me pūjane suta || 5 || ketakīpatrapuṣpaṃ ca bhṛṃgarājastathaiva ca || tulasīpatrapuṣpaṃ ca sadyaḥ prītikaraṃ mama|| 6 || padmānyaṃbusamutthāni raktanīlotpale tathā || sitotpalaṃ sahomāse mamā'tyantaṃ hi vallabham || 7 || tānyeva ca praśastāni kusumāni ca me suta || yāni syurvarṇayuktāni rasagandhayutāni ca || 8 || nirgaṃdhānyapi śastāni kusumāni matāni me || surabhīṇi tathā'nyāni varjayitvā tu ketakīm || 9 || bāṇaṃ ca caṃpakā'śokaṃ karavīraṃ ca yūthikā || pāribhadraṃ pāṭalā ca bakulaṃ giriśālinī || 2.5.7.10 || bilvapatraṃ śamīpatraṃ patraṃ bhṛṃgirajasya ca || tamālāmalakīpatraṃ śastaṃ me pūjane suta || 11 || puṣpairaraṇyasaṃbhūtaiḥ patrairvā girisaṃbhavaiḥ || aparyuṣitaniśchidraiḥ prokṣitairjaṃtuvarjitaiḥ|| 12 || athārāmodbhavairvāpi puṣpaiḥ saṃpūjayecca mām || puṣpajātiviśeṣeṇa bhavetpuṇyaṃ viśeṣataḥ ||13|| tapaḥśīlaguṇopete pātre vedasya pārage || daśa dattvā suvarṇāni yatphalaṃ labhate naraḥ || tatphalaṃ labhate martyaḥ sahe kusumadānataḥ || 14 || droṇapuṣpe tathaikasminmahyaṃ ca vinivedite || daśa dattvā suvarṇāni phalaṃ tadadhikaṃ suta || 15 || puṣpātpuṣpāṃtare bhedo yathā''sīttannibodha me || 16 || droṇapuṣpasahasrebhyaḥ khādiraṃ tu viśiṣyate || khādirātpuṣpasāhasrācchamīpuṣpaṃ viśiṣyate || 17 || śamīpuṣpasahasrebhyo bilvapuṣpaṃ viśiṣyate || bilvapuṣpasahasrebhyo bakapuṣpaṃ viśiṣyate ||18|| bakapuṣpasahasrebhyo naṃdyāvartaṃ viśiṣyate || naṃdyāvartasahasrāddhi karavīraṃ viśiṣyate || 19 || karavīrasahasrasya kusumaṃ śvetamuttamam || karavīraśvetapuṣpātpālāśaṃ puṣpamuttamam || 2.5.7.20 || pālāśapuṣpasāhasrātkuśapuṣpaṃ viśiṣyate || kuśapuṣpasahasrāddhi vanamālā viśiṣyate || 21 || vanamālā sahasrāddhi caṃpakaṃ ca viśiṣyate || caṃpakasya puṣpaśatādaśokaṃ puṣpamuttamam || 22 || aśokapuṣpasāhasrācchevantīpuṣpamuttamam || śevantīpuṣpasāhasrātkujakaṃ puṣpamuttamam || 23 || kujapuṣpasahasrāddhi mālatīpuṣpamuttamam || mālatīpuṣpasāhasrātsandhyāpuṣpaṃ viśiṣyate || 24 || sandhyā puṣpasahasrāddhi trisaṃdhyāpuṣpamuttamam || 25 || trisaṃdhyāraktasāhasrāttrisaṃdhyāśvetamuttamam || trisandhyāśvetasāhasrātkundapuṣpaṃ viśiṣyate || || 26 || kundapuṣpasahasrāddhi jātīpuṣpaṃ viśiṣyate || sarvāsāṃ puṣpajātīnāṃ jātīpuṣpamihottamam || 27 || jātīpuṣpasahasreṇa yacchenmālāṃ suśobhanām || mahyaṃ yo vidhivaddadyāttasya puṇyaphalaṃ śṛṇu || 28 || kalpakoṭisahasrāṇi kalpakoṭiśatāni ca || matpure vasate nityaṃ mamatulya parākramaḥ || 29 || yeṣāṃ saṃti ca puṣpāṇi praśastāni mamā'rcane || teṣāṃ patrāṇi śastāni tadabhāve phalāni ca || 2.5.7.30 || etaiḥ patraiśca puṣpaiśca phalaiścā'pi tathāhi mām || arcandaśasuvarṇasya pratyekaṃ phalamāpnuyāt || 31 || etābhiḥ puṣpajātībhiḥ sahomāse'rcayaṃti ye || bhaktiṃ dadāmi teṣāṃ vai tuṣṭaḥ sannātra saṃśayaḥ || 32 || dhanaṃ putrāṃstathā dārānyatkiṃcidvāṃchate hi saḥ || tattaddadāmi deveśa puṣpairebhiḥ pratoṣitaḥ || 33 || iti śrīskāṃde mahāpurāṇa ekāśītisāhasryāṃ saṃhitāyāṃ dvitīye vaiṣṇavakhaṇḍe brahmaviṣṇusaṃvāde mārgaśīrṣamāhātmye jātīpuṣpaśraiṣṭhyakathanapūrvakaṃ viṣṇukaṇṭhe tatsahasrapuṣpāṃkitamālāsthāpanaphalayovarṇanaṃnāma saptamo'dhyāyaḥ || 7 ||
English translation
Note: [1] .—Though the title of the chapter proposes to emphasize the importance of Jāti flowers ( Jasminum grandiflorum ), the author recommends a rich variety of flowers (and leaves) liked by Viṣṇu (vv 3-13).
Brahmā said :
1. O Lord of Devas , recount the effieacy of the different varieties of flowers and the respective benefits obtained by men (through them).
Śrī Bhagavān Said :
2. Listen, O my son. I shall recount the efficacy of flowers as well as the names of flowers which undoubtedly give me great delight.
3-5. They are Mallikā , Mālatī , Yūthikā and Atimuktakā (all varieties of Jasmine), Pāṭala (Trumpet flower), Karavīra (Oleander), Jayantī ( Sesbania aegyptiace ), Vijayā (a variety of the former) ( Terminalia chebula ), Kubjaka Stabaka ( Trapa bispinosa ), Karṇikāra ( Cathartocarpus fistula ), Kuraṇṭaka (Yellow amaranth), Caṃpaka ( Michelia campaka ), Cātaka (?), Kunda (Jasmine), Bāṇa ( Saccharum sara ), Karcūra (Turmeric mallika ) ( Jasminum zambae ), Aśoka , Tilaka ( Clerodendrum phlomoides ) and Aparayūthikā (a variety of Jasmine). These flowers are auspicious in my worship, O son.
6. The following cause immediate pleasure to the: Ketakī flowers and leaves ( Pandanus odoratissimus ), Bhṛṅgarāja and Tulāsī leaves and flowers.
7. Lotuses growing in water, red and blue lilies and white lily-all these are my great favourites in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa .
8. Only those flowers which have good colour, taste and fragrance are excellent (for me), O my son.
9. Those without fragrance are also considered by me (tolerably) good. Other fragrant flowers except Ketakī (are also good).
10-11. Bāṇa, Caṃpaka, Aśoka, Karavīra, Yūthikā, Pāribhadra ( Erythena fulgens ), Pāṭalā , Bakula ( Mimusops elengi ), Giriśālinī, Bilva leaves, Śamī leaves, Bhṛṅgarāja leaves, Tamāla and Āmalakī leaves ( Emblic myrobalan )—all these are excellent for my worship, O son.
12. I should be worshipped with forest flowers or leaves from mountains. They should not be stale (i.e. much time should not have elapsed after plucking). They must not have holes in them. No insect should stick to them. Before worship they must be sprinkled with water.
13. I can be worshipped with flowers from parks and gardens too. If I am worshipped with flowers of excellent quality, the merit shall be greater.
14. By offering flowers in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa, a man obtains that merit which people get by giving ten gold pieces to a deserving person endowed with good conduct, penance and mastery over the Vedas .
15. If a single Droṇa flower (probably of Leucas linifolia ) is offered to me, one gets more than the merit obtained by giving ten gold pieces, O son.{GL_NOTE::}
16-19. Know from me the difference between flower and flower. Khādira ( Acacia catechu ) is better ṃan thousands of Droṇa flowers. Śamī flower is better than a thousand Khādira flowers. Bilva flower is better ṃan thousands of Śamī flowers. Baka flower ( Sesbana grandiflora? ) is better than thousands of Bilva flowers. Nandyāvarta is better than thousands of Baka flowers. Karavīra (oleander) is better than a thousand Nandyāvarta flowers.
20-24. Śveta flower (white bignonia? MW) is better ṃan a thousand Karavīra flowers. Palāśa flower is better than a thousand Śveta flowers. Kuśa flower is better ṃan a thousand Palāśa flowers. Vanamālā (wild Jasmine?) is better ṃan a thousand Kuśa flowers, Caṃpaka is better than a thousand Vanamālā flowers. Aśoka flower is better than a hundred Caṃpaka flowers. Śevantī flower is better than a thousand Aśoka flowers. Kujaka flower is better ṃan a thousand Śevantī flowers. Mālatī flower (Jasmine) is better than a thousand Kuja flowers. Sandhyā flower ( Jasminum grandiflorum ) is better than a thousand Mālatī flowers.
25-28. Trisandhyā flower ( Hibiscus rosa sinensis ) is better than a thousand Sandhyā flowers. Trisandhyā Śveta flower is better than a thousand Trisandhyā red flowers. Kunda flower ( Jasmine , Jasminum multiflorum ) is better than a thousand Trisandhyā Śveta flowers. Jāti flower ( Jasminum grandiflorum ) is better ṃan a thousand Kunda flowers. Jāti flower is better than all other flowers. Listen to the merit of the man who duly offers to me a very splendid garland having a ṃousand Jāti flowers.
29-33. He lives in my city thousands of crores of Kalpas and hundreds of crores of Kalpas. He will have the power and valour equal to that of mine. If the flowers are excellent for my worship, their leaves too are good. If they are not available, the fruits (can be used). By worshipping me with these flowers, leaves, and fruits one obtains the benefit of offering ten gold pieces. If people worship me in the Mārgaśīrṣa month with these flower varieties, I grant them devotion on being pleased. There is no doubt about it. Propitiated by these flowers, O Lord of Devas, I grant them wealth, sons, wives, and whatever they may desire.
[1]: [1] : VV 15-28 give the gradation of flowers in importance as liked by Viṣṇu. Though these are said to be pleasing to Viṣṇu in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa, works on Pūjā recommend them in other months as well.
Complete chapter-aligned witnesses. Sanskrit Wikisource page 23020, revision 329299 (2022-01-02T00:52:39Z). English is G. V. Tagare’s complete translation, controlled against its chapter page at https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-skanda-purana/d/doc371686.html and the archival publication witness. The witnesses are aligned at chapter level; no unsupported verse-by-verse equivalence is asserted.